How to Turn Your iPhone Into a Dumb Phone and Reduce Your Screen Time
CNET • • general
Key Points:
- Many people, including the author, struggle with excessive social media use and "doomscrolling," which can increase anxiety and waste time, especially before bed.
- A 2024 Pew Research survey found that 72% of US teens feel peaceful without their smartphones, while 44% experience anxiety related to phone use.
- The author recommends various iPhone features to reduce phone addiction, such as disabling notifications, using Focus Mode to limit distractions, setting Screen Time limits, and scheduling downtime.
- Assistive Access and third-party apps like Dumb Phone offer minimalist interfaces to simplify iPhone use and reduce distractions, though they may limit functionality or require a subscription fee.
- While these tools help manage screen time without switching to a simpler device, some willpower is still needed, and alternatives like minimalist or keyboard phones exist for those seeking a secondary, less distracting device.
